Atomizer



May 23, 1939. RJH. sEAMAN Er AL ATOMIZER Filed oct. 9, '193e K un. -ATToev/yfr Patented May 23, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ATOMIZER Richard H. Seaman and Albert Monk, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 9,

' 3 Claims.

Our invention relates to atornizers, and in particular to atomizers designed to spray medicinal liquids, and among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an atomizer which produces a particularly fine fog or mist and is particularly designed to atomize certain medicines for the treatment of asthma or kindred ailments for the reason that such medicine is usually powerful and undue concentration or large drops thereof is apt to be detrimental.

Second, to provide an atomizer which is extremely compact in design and so arranged that it may be variously connected with a conventional rubber bulb, either inserted substantially within the bulb with only its discharge end protruding, or arranged merely with its air intake end inserted in the bulb, or further, connected with the bulb through a tube.

Third, to provide an atomizer which incorporates a novel valve arrangement which insures against dripping of medicine from the air intake end of the atomizer and further, minimizes back ow of medicine into the air intake tube even though the liquid is shaken in the atomizer.

Fourth, to provide an atomizer which operates efficiently on a small quantity of liquid and continues to so operate until only a negligible amount of liquid remains.

Fifth, to provide an atomizer wherein all moisture particles or drops which may issue from the atomizing element are caused to impinge on the Walls of the discharge tube so that they may drain back leaving the truly atomized portion of the liquid to be discharged.

Sixth, to` provide an atomizer which incorporates at its discharge nozzle a novel baffle arrangement Which insures against discharge of unatomized particles.

Seventh, to provide an atomizer wherein the parts may be readily assembled and disassembled and which is particularly simple and economical ofk manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as may appear. hereinafter reference is directed to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of our atomizer shown mounted in an atomizer bulb.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the atomizer without the bulb.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is another transverse sectional View through 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the foot valve designed 1936, Serial No. 104,807

(Cl. 12S-173) to minimise dripping from the air intake of the atomizer.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of a modied form of atomizer in which the atomizer element is removably mounted in the atomizer shell.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through 1 1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is another transverse sectional view through 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a further transverse sectional view through 9-9 of Fig. 6.

The atomizer is enclosed in a tubular shell I which is substantially constant in diameter throughout and bent near one end to form two angularly disposed arm portions forming a liquid chamber 2 and a nozzle 3. The lower end of the chamber 2 is substantially closed by an upwardly extending air .tube 4 which tapers toward its extremity. The air tube is directed in a curve so that its mid-portion is adjacent the side wall and its extremity or tip 5 is directed at an angle with and almost intersecting the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

A siphon tube B extends along the side of the air tube and is substantially straight except for its discharge end 'l which turns toward the tip 5v of the air tube whereby a jet of air issuing from the air tube tends to draw liquid up the siphon tube in the usual manner of atomizer elements. The siphon tube may be supported intermediate its ends from the air tube by a web 8.

Below the juncture of the air tube 4 with the chamber 2 is a tapering stem 9 terminating in a slightly belled end I0. Fitted in the stem 9 is a foot valve II in the form of a socket constructed from flexible material such as rubber. One end of the foot valve is closed except for a diametrically extending slit I2 and a substantially right angularly disposed radial slit I3. The walls of the foot valve are thin except for its open end which is thickened by a ange I4. The flange I4 ts the belled end IIJ of the stem 9 while the remainder of the foot valve extends into the stern.

The tips 5 and 1 of the air and siphon tubes are preferably disposed at equal angles to the longitudinal axis of the chamber With the tip of the siphon tube slightly ahead of the other. This arrangement causes the spray from the atomizer element thus formed to discharge in a cone I5 as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2. Approximately opposite the plane at which the cone strikes the walls of the chamber, the chamber is provided with an annular channel I6 which forms an external rib l1. The particular location of the channel I6 tends to break up and further atomize the stream issuing from the atomizer element. Furthermore liquid particles or drops which still remain tend to consolidate on the Walls of the shell and drain back. Should these be urged by the air stream in the shell to the nozzle 3, the extremity thereof is provided with a iiange IB which is directly both radially and axially inwardly and which forms a channel I9. Said channel prevents such liquid particles being discharged with the atornized or vapor stream.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. Insofar as its operation is concerned, the structure here illustrated is similar to the rst described structure, but provides certain advantages in the way ofeconomical manufacture, and cleaning.

A shell 2l is provided, the nozzle end of which is identical to the rst structure, so that only the chamber end 22 is shown. This portion is in the form of a straight tube. A body member 23 preferably formed of readily molded material such as a synthetic resin incorporates a plug portion 24 having an annular channel adapted to receive a gasket 25 of yieldable material. Below the plug 24 the body member 23 forms a stem 26 having a belled extremity 2'l in which fits the foot valve Il as in the rst described structure, there being a cavity 28 above the belled end 21. Inwardly of the plug 24 the body member is provided with a support 29 having a bore 30 extending its length and intersecting the cavity 2s. A

second bore 3| is formed beside the bore 30, this intersecting a notch 3|a in the Side of the support 29. The bores 30 and 3i receive respectively an air tube 32 and a siphon tube 33. These tubes may be identical in construction and straight except for angularly disposed tips 34. By providing shoulders 35 and 36 insertion of the tubes in their respective bores may be so limited that they may be readily positionedin the correct relation with each other.

Each part employed in this arrangement is capable of being molded in quantity by automatic machinery and require little or no hand Work other than assembly. Furthermore, although atomizers are inherently hard to clean the several parts of the above described structure are easily dissembled for cleaning. The arrangement of the air tube and siphon tube tips as well as the shell 2| thereabove being substantially identical to the rst described structure, proper atomization of the medicine is assured.

With reference to the foot valve Il used in both structures, the particular arrangements of the valve slits therein tend to prevent sound producing vibrations. This is advantageous, for often, particularly when used by asthmatic sufferers, it must be operated in public. On the other hand, an occasional drop of medicine that may find its way down the air tube isprevented by the foot valve from passing out of the air intake end and into the conventional atomizer bulb 42 such as shown in Fig. 1 where it might Contact and damage the metal check valve 4I therein.

Though We have shown and described particular embodiments of our invention We do not wish to be limited thereto, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the constructions, combinations and arrangements as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. An atomizer comprising; an atomizer chamber having an open end; a body member corking said open end and including a support extending into said shell, said support being notched at one side and having a pair of bores therein one intersecting said notch and the other extending through said body member; a pair of tubes tting said bores and forming at their extended ends an atomizer unit.

2. An atomizer structure comprising: an elongated tube of substantially uniform diameter bent at its mid portion but otherwise straight; an atomizer unit in one end of said tube, and an inturned ilange at the other extremity of said tube forming a trap for fluids traveling from the atomizer 'unit along the walls of the tube, Said tube being otherwise free of obstruction between the atomizer unit and said flanged end.

3. An atomizer structure comprising; an atomizer chamber adapted to contain a liquid for atomization; a siphon tube and an air tube in said chamber and eoacting to form an atomizer nozzle disposed above the normal liquid level in said chamber; a check valve disposed in close proximity to the discharge end of said air tube to define therewith a chamber of rudimentary dimensions, whereby the contents thereof is immediately expelled therefrom during initial flow from said air tube; an elongated delivery tube extending from said atomizer chamber, said delivery tube being of uniform diameter and bent intermediate its ends; and a reentrant nozzle at the extreme end of said delivery tube tending to entrap fluids passing along the walls of said delivery tube, said delivery tube being otherwise unobstructed.

RICHARD H. SEAMAN. ALBERT MONK. 

